DEATH: Youth footballer Alex Peguero Sosa died of a stab wound last July [PPA]

Alex Peguero Sosa, 17, a rising star in Plymouth Argyle's youth team, was involved in an argument with Lee Dent, 42, at a taxi rank in Kingsbridge, south Devon in July last year.

Plymouth Crown Court heard how Dent allegedly drove a bottle into the mixed race teen's neck before fleeing the scene and telling a friend, "the f***ing n***** deserved it".

Dent and his group of friends had ended up at the same taxi rank as Alex and two of his mates after a night out.

One of Dent's friends, Claire Jarvis, is said to have mocked Alex for his hairstyle being "Afro" and the youngster took offence.

The jury were shown CCTV footage of the incident and a 10-minute video filmed on one of Alex's friend's phones.

Simon Laws QC, prosecuting, said: "Alex was of mixed race. Alex and his group took exception to this, saying that Claire Jarvis was being racist."

He told the court how Dent then got involved and started to square up to Alex after swearing and using racist terms towards him.

Then "out of the blue Dent swung his right hand to the left side of Alex's neck".

"Alex backed off and held his hand to his injury", he added.

Blood began pouring out of Alex's wound and Dent's friend Henry Felton told police the atmosphere was "volatile".

KILLING: Dent has denied murder at Plymouth Crown Court [GOOGLE]

“The f***ing n***** deserved it”

What Lee Dent is alleged to have said

Witness Mr Felton then told officers how Dent was acting in a "macho style, puffing his chest out".

The court heard how Dent had picked up a bottle seconds before the attack and smashed it into Alex's neck.

Mr Laws argued: "It was an act of pure aggression from the defendant. It was a situation he could have walked away from at any point. Instead he chose to resort to violence of an extreme kind and a young life was wasted as a result.

"There is no doubt that it was his hand that held the bottle."

Alex was pronounced dead at Derriford Hospital just after 4am.

A post-mortem examination found a piece of glass still in Alex's neck.

Mr Laws told the court how Dent then came up with two "untruthful" claims of what had happened.

One being he acted in self-defence and the second that Alex had been armed with a knife.

Mr Laws added: "He has also said he did not realise that he had a bottle in his hand, that he had only meant to throw a punch. He picked up the bottle moments before he used it."